Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. Hosted at Carole’s Random Life

This week’s forgotten book is: Seven Faceless Saints by MK Lobb

I got this book in March 2023 in my Fairyloot box – there goes my pledge to read my book box books in 2 months!!!!

In the city of Ombrazia, saints and their disciples rule with terrifying and unjust power, playing favorites while the unfavored struggle to survive.

After her father’s murder at the hands of the Ombrazian military, Rossana Lacertosa is willing to do whatever it takes to dismantle the corrupt system—tapping into her powers as a disciple of Patience, joining the rebellion, and facing the boy who broke her heart. As the youngest captain in the history of Palazzo security, Damian Venturi is expected to be ruthless and strong, and to serve the saints with unquestioning devotion. But three years spent fighting in a never-ending war have left him with deeper scars than he wants to admit… and a fear of confronting the girl he left behind.

Now a murderer stalks Ombrazia’s citizens. As the body count climbs, the Palazzo is all too happy to look the other way—that is, until a disciple becomes the newest victim. With every lead turning into a dead end, Damian and Roz must team up to find the killer, even if it means digging up buried emotions. As they dive into the underbelly of Ombrazia, the pair will discover something more sinister—and far less holy. With darkness closing in and time running out, will they be able to save the city from an evil so powerful that it threatens to destroy everything in its path?

Title: Wild Wolf

Series: Darkmore Penitentiary #4

Author: Caroline Peckham

Freedom never tasted so bitter.

A stolen love. A strangled curse. A heart of sin. And a fate touched in moonlight.

My men weave a tangled web around my soul, and I’ve formed a pack that will go to death and back for me.

The moon hangs low over my heart as the call of the endless sky draws me closer and I find myself lost in the abyss that was waiting for me out here.

Fate has left a bitter taste on my tongue, the haunting echoes of the past mocking me at every turn. But I’m not a pup anymore. And I won’t let another ten years pass without mending the rift in my heart.

Darkness draws near enough to devour me but I have forged a pack of wild creatures at my back and I won’t be pulled into the grip of despair.

I’ll find the stars in this endless night and force them to hear me howl.

I am Rosalie Oscura and I will claim my happy ending, even if I have to claw it from the hands of destiny itself.

After the (frankly) shocking ending of the last book, I needed this!

Back with Rosa, Sin, Ethan, Cain, Roary and don’t forget Hastings!

The fight is on to save Roary, put an end to Darv Enterpise’s plans (IYKYK!) and not end up back in Darkmore.

I really enjoyed this conclusion but admit I was really looking forward to an Ethan and Ryder reunion but we didn’t get it, not my story to tell I guess!

There was one part of the story that made my heart sing, all I’ll say is that it involved Sin! He needed it, really needed it!

I think we got a glimpse of Caleb and Seth….but I’m not sure and loved seeing Max again!

I’ll leave you with a couple of quotes that I felt in my soul:

‘I think it’s the kind layered in scars. That’s what makes you fit in with us. We’re all broken on the inside.’

‘Se io sono la luna, allora tu sei la forza che mi sostiene……if I am the moon then you are the force that holds me up.’

‘A morte e ritorno.’

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic: Books with red on the cover!

I’ve changed the topic this week!

Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon
The Temptation Of Magic by Megan Scott
Dead Happy by Josh Silver
Swordcatcher by Cassandra Clare
Scarlett by Genevieve Cogman
The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin
Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
For the Throne by Hannah Whitten
City of Ghosts by VE Schwab

What would you pick?

Title: A Dark and Drowning Tide

Author: Allison Saft

Lorelei Kaskel, a folklorist with a quick temper and an even quicker wit, is on an expedition with six eccentric nobles in search of a fabled spring. The magical spring promises untold power, which the king wants to harness to secure his reign of the embattled country of Brunnestaad. Lorelei is determined to use this opportunity to prove herself and make her wildest, most impossible dream come to become a naturalist, able to travel freely to lands she’s only ever read about.

The expedition gets off to a harrowing start when its leader—Lorelei’s beloved mentor—is murdered in her quarters aboard their ship. The suspects are her five remaining expedition mates, each with their own motive. The only person Lorelei knows must be innocent is her longtime academic rival, the insufferably gallant and maddeningly beautiful Sylvia von Wolff. Now in charge of the expedition, Lorelei must find the spring before the murderer strikes again—and a coup begins in earnest.

But there are other dangers lurking in the forests that rearrange themselves at night, rivers with slumbering dragons waiting beneath the water, and shapeshifting beasts out for blood.

As Lorelei and Sylvia grudgingly work together to uncover the truth—and resist their growing feelings for one another—they discover that their professor had secrets of her own. Secrets that make Lorelei question whether justice is worth pursuing, or if this kingdom is worth saving at all.

I devoured this book, it took me completely by surprise and I absolutely loved it!

I fear I cannot do this story justice in a review so here’s what you can expect and a few of my feelings thrown in!

~ Locked room murder mystery,
~ Enchanting folktales
~ A magical expedition,
~ Political intrigue,
~ Rivals to much more,
~ Sarcastic, cutting banter,
~ Top notch world building 
~ Found family….goes wrong,
~ Edge of the seat drama.

It read like a beautiful, harmonious song!

‘Because life is as bitter as it is sweet.’

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer  It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

Hope you’ve had a good week!

Another busy week, can’t wait for things to calm down!

I had a notification that I’ve had 100k views on here! I’m so happy!

I’m doing a reread of Throne of Glass this year, I’ve been reading them on the school run waiting for my son! There’s been a 6 week gap but I finished book 5!

---

What I’ve Read

Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas (reread)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Variant Lost by Kaydence Snow
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Look out for my reviews soon!

---

You might have missed…..

ARC Review – Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent
Review – Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
Feature – Stacking the Shelves
Feature – October releases I’ve got my eye on!

---

What have you read lately?

Here’s what’s tantalising me that’s releasing in October (that I may have preordered!!)

I’m not sure if my preorder list skills are going wrong but I only have 2 books that I want (or maybe need!!!)

The Blood Orchid by Kylie Lee Baker
Sword Crossed by Freya Marske 

Will you be getting any of these?

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! And audiobooks. Don’t forget audiobooks!

In other words, if you can read it or if it can be read to you – no matter how you got it – it belongs in Stacking the Shelves.

The Stacking the Shelves meme was originally hosted at Team Tynga’s Reviews. It is currently hosted by Reading Reality.

---

A little late posting this but it was stuff your kindle day and I think I was very restrained! Also had to buy Wisteria because I love that series!

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace
A Cage of Crimson by KF Breene
The Modern Girls Guide to Magic by Linsey Hall
A Court of Shadows by CN Crawford

 

Title: Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Series: Cerulean Chronicles #2

Author: TJ Klune

A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.

He’s the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there.

Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. He is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department In Charge of Magical Youth. And there’s the island’s sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children.

But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.

And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name that Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they’re at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.

Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.

‘Greatness from small beginnings.’

Utterly beautiful. There are no words to describe the incredible marvellousness of this book! Found family at its most perfect.

Arthur, Linus, Zoe, Lucy, Talia, Sal, Theodore, Phee, Chauncey and Marsyas Island are back and looming over them is a court appearance of sorts, the government breathing down their neck and, a new arrival, David.

I was so excited for this book! THitCS is one of my favourite books and to revisit was utter joy!

My favourite parts:

~ Found family
~ The best parents ever
~ Utter acceptance
~ Nocturnal emissions!!!!

And as you can tell from the above ramblings of joy, this book took my heart and made it fly!

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic: Books That Provide a Much-Needed Escape

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
Throne of Glass by SJM
Plier by Jane Washington
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Emily Wildes by Heather Fawcett
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
The Three Series by Kristen Ashley
Chaos MC by Kristen Ashley
Rock Chicks by Kristen Ashley

What are yours?